In this few weeks since my last blog I’ve not done any actual practical work but have made leaps and bounds in reference to my overall practice. I’ve applied for a studio, turned down the residency in Sheffield, been to some great talks and also applied for 4 exhibition/screening opportunities.
I’m getting really excited about the prospect of having a studio again. I have had one before, at Islington Mill in Salford, which I ended early in 2009. This was fantastic for my practice development but the didn’t find the artistic community that I wanted. Islington mill is a fantastic place but only about a quarter of the studios are for artists (the others being creative practioners). They have the arts club, which do some fantastic things, but I wasn’t allowed to join as I had an arts degree (It’s for people who want to have a non university art education but I just loved what they were doing and wanted to be part of it). Also the studios were self-contained, which was great at the time, but doesn’t give you the chance to see what other people are doing.
The studio that I’ve applied for is at S1 art space in Sheffield and it’s open plan and artists hold all the studios. I have had to apply via application form, with images and a CV, and also have to have an interview this afternoon. This formal procedure could be seen as quite elitist but I think that there should be a sense of protective selection as there’s a community to uphold. The studio holders also have to commit to helping out in the space to for a few hours per week, which I like the idea of. They also have a fantastic gallery and ongoing exhibition programme and the opportunity to get involved in that is really exciting. Fingers crossed.
